Article
Neurosciences
Luiggi Lustosa, Ana Elisa Lemos Silva, Raquel de Paula Carvalho, Claudia D. Vargas
Summary: Upper limb coordination is reorganized after TBPI to preserve hand kinematics.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Sonja M. Buitenhuis, Willem Pondaag, Ron Wolterbeek, Martijn J. A. Malessy
Summary: The study aimed to investigate factors causing impaired hand function in children with upper Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy (NBPP) by analyzing tactile hand sensibility, particularly the ability to correctly localize sensory stimulus on their fingers. Compared to healthy controls, children with NBPP showed significantly diminished ability to localize stimuli on their fingertips, except for the little finger. This finding is likely one of the factors contributing to hand function impairment and should be addressed through sensory focused therapy.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mariano Socolovsky, Karina Barillaro, Gonzalo Bonilla, Gilda Di Masi, Martijn Malessy
Summary: This study investigates the levels of disconnection and reconnection in nerve transfers for brachial plexus injuries. A novel plasticity grading scale was developed and used to assess the volitional control achieved. The study found that only approximately 20% of patients achieved complete control over the reinnervated muscle.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Murat Danisman, Abdulsamet Emet, Ismail Aykut Kocyigit, Ercan Hassa, Akin Uzumcugil
Summary: The study aimed to determine the differences in the length of the affected extremity in patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). They evaluated the humerus, ulna, radius, 2nd metacarpal, and 5th metacarpal lengths in 45 patients aged 6 months to 18 years. Statistically significant differences were found in the change rates of affected/healthy humerus, radius, 2nd metacarpal, and 5th metacarpal lengths according to age and Narakas classification. There were also differences in the affected/healthy change rates of ulna, radius, and 5th metacarpal lengths based on secondary surgeries.
Article
Neurosciences
Christina M. Webber, Alexander Y. Shin, Kenton R. Kaufman
Summary: The transition of data acquisition from the laboratory to the real world provides a new perspective for assessing surgical intervention, particularly in cases of traumatic brachial plexus injury. This study developed a method to report bilateral upper extremity (UE) activity in patients with BPI, aiming to use real world data as an outcome measure in clinical practice. The analysis revealed that while there were not significant differences, there was a decrease in asymmetry indices in the forearm and upper arm in the post-surgery group compared to the pre-surgery group. However, both the pre-surgery group and the post-surgery group with pan-plexus injuries showed statistically significant differences in forearm and upper arm asymmetry compared to the healthy control group.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHY AND KINESIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Weiqiang Liang, Yang Liu, Yali Zhao, Yu Chen, Yangyang Yin, Linhan Zhai, Zehui Li, Zhenxiang Gong, Jing Zhang, Min Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of quantitative MRI in patients with upper extremity onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The results showed that brachial plexus thinning, limb-girdle muscle atrophy, and fatty infiltration may serve as MRI-derived biomarkers for ALS.
JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Fan Su, Guobao Wang, Tie Li, Su Jiang, Aiping Yu, Xiaomin Wang, Wendong Xu
Summary: Patients with cerebral injury undergoing contralateral C7 transfer showed faster C7 nerve regeneration, possibly due to altered systemic inflammation leading to macrophage polarization. Serum amyloid protein A1 (SAA1) was found to promote C7 regeneration and interfere with macrophage polarization.
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Orthopedics
Kivanc Delioglu, Akin Uzumcugil, Ebru Ozturk, Mintaze Kerem Gunel
Summary: This study aimed to explore the differences in upper limb function and activity levels between preschool children with Narakas Groups 2a and 2b obstetric brachial plexus injury, finding significant functional disparities in favor of Group 2a. The most significant joint movement affecting upper limb function was identified as shoulder internal rotation.
JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY-EUROPEAN VOLUME
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Yusha Liu, Rafael M. L. Silva, Jeffrey B. Friedrich, Dennis S. Kao, Pierre D. Mourad, Aaron E. Bunnell
Summary: In this study, the authors developed a therapeutic gaming platform that combines a custom surface electromyography device with video games to assist in the recovery of patients with severe upper extremity weakness. The device was highly sensitive in detecting voluntary muscle activation and showed promising results in 19 patients. This surface electromyography-based therapeutic gaming approach has the potential to be an effective rehabilitation method and should be further investigated.
PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
R. Tyler Richardson, Stephanie A. Russo, Ross S. Chafetz, Spencer Warshauer, Emily Nice, Scott H. Kozin, Dan A. Zlotolow, James G. Richards
Summary: This study evaluated a clinical tool that combines real-time visual feedback with motion capture to provide an innovative means of engaging patients and quantifying their available upper extremity workspace. The use of real-time feedback resulted in significantly greater workspace and a more intuitive depiction of the patient's abilities.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Andreas Gohritz, Gregor Laengle, Anna Boesendorfer, Bernhard Gesslbauer, Clemens Gstoettner, Olga Politikou, Agnes Sturma, Oskar C. C. Aszmann
Summary: We present a series of patients aged over 60 who underwent nerve reconstruction using nerve transfers, and show that this method is effective in restoring muscle strength and arm function in older patients, contradicting previous literature.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sung Jae Kim, Young Min Kwon, Sang Min Ahn, Jang Hoon Lee, Chang-Hun Lee
Summary: This study investigated the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of upper extremity peripheral nerve injuries in South Korea from 2008 to 2018. The findings showed a decreasing trend in annual incidence, with fingers and digital nerves being the most commonly injured sites, and a higher incidence of PNIs in the summer and among men.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Matthias E. Sporer, Peter C. Brugger, Martin Aman, Christoph F. Fuchssteiner, Christopher Festin, Clemens Gstoettner, Oskar C. Aszmann
Summary: The fascicular shift procedure is a new technique that allows for nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve reconstruction. It involves harvesting a fascicular group distal to a nerve injury and shifting it to bridge the defect. This study evaluated the clinical applicability of this technique in brachial plexus reconstruction, finding that the ulnar and median nerves were suitable for fascicular shifting.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Haijun Li, Jinxiu Chen, Juehan Wang, Tianfang Zhang, Zuobing Chen
Summary: Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is a serious peripheral nerve injury that leads to severe and persistent impairments of the upper limb. The demand for rehabilitation treatment after BPI is increasing due to the relatively mature early diagnosis and surgical technique. Rehabilitation intervention can benefit different stages of recovery, but the treatment methods vary due to the complexity of the brachial plexus. This article explores the potential contributions of various methods to BPI rehabilitation and provides a concise overview of beneficial interventions, forming clear rehabilitation processes based on different periods and populations.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Robert B. B. Kim, Michael Bounajem, Forrest Hamrick, Mark A. A. Mahan
Summary: Neurotization of partial or total brachial plexus injuries through intercostal or phrenic nerve transfers may result in better functional recovery than using contralateral C7. Ulnar, median, or double fascicle nerve transfers show similarly excellent functional recovery in patients with upper trunk injuries.
